The Baltimore Orioles enter the second half of the season in first place, but with many questions surrounding their pitching rotation. The Orioles believe they may have found a solution to their biggest problem sitting right under their nose in the team’s bullpen.
According to a team announcement, Dylan Bundy will get the call to start on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bundy, once a highly-touted prospect as a starter, has had a career derailed by injuries. Sunday’s start in Tampa will be the first of the 23-year-old Bundy’s career.
After making his debut as a teenager in 2012, Bundy’s next appearance in the major leagues came out of the bullpen in April of 2016. Bundy, 2-1 with a 3.08 earned run average, has not yet made an appearance longer than three innings.
One of Bundy’s three-inning appearances came against the Rays at Camden Yards on June 26. In that outing, Bundy threw a season-high 57 pitches, allowing just two hits, while striking out four.
Bundy told MASN Sports reporter Roch Kubatko that he wasn’t told how long his start would last. He speculated that he would go longer than usual, “four or five innings, maybe six, if I’m lucky.”
Manager Buck Showalter told Kubatko that he felt Bundy represented the, “best foot forward,” for the team’s rotation.
Bundy’s promotion to the rotation may be the result of recent success. The right-hander did not allow a run in his last 15.1 innings. Sunday’s game also presents a safe opponent, as the Rays sit in last place in the American League East.
Bundy likes to establish his low-to-mid 90’s fastball with no fear of pitching inside. His main out-pitch is an accurate slider but he likes to use the changeup against lefties. His 2.67 strikeout to walk ratio is misleading as four of his 12 walks this season were intentional.
Friday’s announcement comes with a map of the Orioles rotation for the next four games. Yovani Gallardo is scheduled to start the series opener against the Rays on Friday, followed by Chris Tillman on Saturday. Kevin Gausman will start the first of a four-game set against the New York Yankees on Monday.
Gerard Gilberto is a Staff Writer for Outside Pitch MLB. Follow him on Twitter.
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